President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the political fallout and public reception of the President's press conference held earlier that day, specifically addressing comments regarding the bombing of North Vietnam and the targeting of dikes. The two evaluated the President's performance, compared historical precedents for the vice presidency, and touched upon political concerns involving Senator Hugh Scott and other congressional relations. Additionally, they reviewed the ongoing military situation in South Vietnam, including casualty counts and the impact of the conflict on future peace negotiations.
On July 27, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:46 pm to 4:56 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 351-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 351-8
Date: July 27, 1972
Time: 4:46 pm - 4:56 pm
(rev. Mar-02)
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
Hugh Scott
-Thomas C. Korologos
-Compromise language on a bill or resolution
-Administration's acceptance
The President's press conference, July 27, 1972
-Kissinger’s view
-Kissinger's attendance
-Kurt Waldheim
-Kissinger’s view
-Impact on North Vietnam
-Bombing
-Negotiations
North Vietnamese
-Comment
-The President's press conference statement on bombing
-Dikes
-State Department
-Surface-to-air missiles [SAM] sites on dikes
-Melvin R. Laird
-Retaliation
-Condition
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 49s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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The President's press conference
-Bombing of North Vietnam
-Impact on negotiations
(rev. Mar-02)
-Possible effect on talks
-Delay
-Spiro T. Agnew as Vice President
-Harry S. Truman and Theodore Roosevelt
-Kissinger's evaluation
-Oval Office
-Compared to television
-Comparison with Truman and Roosevelt
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Mark Hanna's assessment Theodore Roosevelt
-Thomas F. Eagleton
-Truman
-Major decisions
-Vice presidency
-Character
-Media coverage
Congressional relations
-Hugh Scott
-The President’s trip to the Soviet Union
The President's press conference
-Question on health problems
-The President's answer
-Psychiatrists
-[Eagleton]
-Details of clients' cases
-Public release
-Lawyers
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 56s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
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Golf game
(rev. Mar-02)
-George Meany
-George P. Shultz
-William P. Rogers
-Laird
Vietnam
-State Department
-South Vietnamese Casualties
-Refugees
-An Loc
-Quang Tri
-South Vietnam
-Airborne Division
-Marines
-Future fighting
-Hanoi
-Negotiations
Scott
Senators
-Meeting with the President
The President's next meeting
Kissinger left at 4:56 pm.This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.